Colleagues and friends, the 2013 national conference - Making Children and Families a Priority: Raising the Bar - was exceptionally successful in serving as an inspiration to all of us to raise the bar for improved outcomes for children, youth, and families. The theme for the conference was based on the essential elements for change articulated in the newly released National Blueprint for Excellence in Child Welfare.

Conference attendees experienced an extraordinary opportunity to learn from featured evidence-informed, evidence-based practices and real world solutions that demonstrate successful thinking in support of children, youth and families. Highlights included:

·Special Member Executive Roundtable with Comcast Executive Vice President David Cohen: Lessons Learned in Responding to Organizational Change